The fastest way: hold Option and press Shift+8

On a Mac, the degree symbol (°) appears when you hold the Option key and press Shift+8 at the same time. Release all three keys and the symbol appears. This works in any program — email, documents, spreadsheets, web forms — without changing your keyboard settings or installing anything.

The reason this works is that Mac keyboards have a hidden layer of characters accessed through the Option key. Most people never discover them because they are not printed on the keys. Shift+8 normally types an asterisk (*), but Option+Shift+8 tells your Mac to produce the degree symbol instead.

If you type the degree symbol often, you can set up a keyboard shortcut so a shorter combination does the same thing. But for occasional use, Option+Shift+8 is the method most people stick with because it requires no setup.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold Option and press Shift+8 to type the degree symbol when ready in any Mac program without setup.
  • The Option key accesses a hidden character layer on Mac keyboards that is not printed on the physical keys.
  • You can create a custom keyboard shortcut in System Settings if you type the degree symbol regularly.
  • The degree symbol works the same way whether you use an Apple keyboard, a third-party keyboard, or a Magic Keyboard.

Creating a custom shortcut if you type it often

If you use the degree symbol multiple times a day — for temperature readings, angles, or coordinates — you can create a shorter keyboard shortcut. Open System Settings (the gear icon in your dock or Applications folder), then go to Keyboard and select the Keyboard Shortcuts tab.

Click App Shortcuts on the left side. Click the plus button at the bottom. In the dialog that appears, leave the process set to All Applications, type the degree symbol (°) in the Menu TitleKeyboard ShortcutAdd.

From that moment on, pressing your chosen combination will type the degree symbol in any program. This shortcut lives in your Mac's settings and moves with you if you sign in to another Mac with your Apple ID.

Using the Character Viewer if you forget the shortcut

If you cannot remember Option+Shift+8, you can open the Character Viewer and search for the symbol directly. Press Control+Command+Space (or go to Edit menu in most programs and look for Emoji & Symbols). A panel opens showing special characters.

Type "degree" in the search box at the top. The degree symbol appears in the results. Double-click it to insert it into your document. This method is slower than the keyboard shortcut, but it works when you are unsure of the exact key combination.

The Character Viewer also shows you what shortcut is assigned to any symbol. Hover over the degree symbol and you will see "Option Shift 8" displayed, which reinforces the keyboard shortcut for next time.

Why the Option key works differently on Mac than Windows

Windows uses the Alt key with numeric codes to produce special characters — for example, holding Alt and typing 0176 on the numeric keypad produces the degree symbol. Mac does not use numeric codes. Instead, the Option key is a dedicated modifier that accesses a second layer of characters built into the keyboard layout.

This is why the degree symbol shortcut on Mac (Option+Shift+8) looks nothing like the Windows method. If you switch between a Mac and a Windows computer, the keyboard shortcuts will not transfer. You will need to remember both methods or use the Character Viewer on either system.

Some third-party keyboards sold for Mac still work with the Option key the same way, because the Mac operating system handles the translation. The physical keyboard does not matter — only your Mac's settings do.

Typing the degree symbol in specific programs

The Option+Shift+8 shortcut works everywhere on your Mac, but a few programs have their own built-in ways to insert it. In Microsoft Word, you can go to Insert menu, select Special Characters, and search for degree. In Google Docs, use Insert > Special characters and type "degree" in the search box.

These program-specific methods are slower than the keyboard shortcut and exist mainly for people who do not know the Option+Shift+8 combination. Stick with the keyboard shortcut — it is faster and works the same way everywhere.

If you are copying and pasting the degree symbol from another document, that also works, but it is the slowest method. The keyboard shortcut is always your quickest option.

Troubleshooting if the shortcut does not work

If Option+Shift+8 does not produce the degree symbol, check whether your keyboard layout is set to something other than U.S. English. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and make sure your active layout is U.S. or U.S. International. Different keyboard layouts assign different characters to the same key combinations.

If you are using a non-Apple keyboard, make sure it is properly connected and recognized by your Mac. Bluetooth keyboards sometimes lose connection. Wired keyboards should work when ready. Restart your Mac if the shortcut still does not work — sometimes the keyboard input system needs to refresh.

If you created a custom shortcut and it is not working, open System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > App Shortcuts and check that the shortcut is listed there. If it is, try removing it and creating it again. If the Option+Shift+8 shortcut works but your custom shortcut does not, the custom shortcut may conflict with another program's shortcut — try a different key combination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the degree symbol shortcut work on iPad or iPhone?

No. iPad and iPhone do not have an Option key. On these devices, hold down the 0 (zero) key on the keyboard and a menu appears with the degree symbol as one of the options. Tap it to insert it. This method is slower than the Mac shortcut but is the only way on Apple's mobile devices.

Can I type the degree symbol if I use a non-English keyboard layout?

The Option+Shift+8 shortcut only works with U.S. English and some other English-based layouts. If you use French, German, Spanish, or another language layout, the same key combination may produce a different character. Check your keyboard layout's documentation or use the Character Viewer instead, which works with any layout.

What if I need to type the degree symbol in a password or login field?

The Option+Shift+8 shortcut works in password fields just like anywhere else. Type it the same way. If a website or program is blocking special characters in passwords, that is a restriction set by that service, not by your Mac — contact their support to ask whether the degree symbol is allowed.

Is there a way to type the degree symbol without using the Option key?

Yes, if you create a custom keyboard shortcut in System Settings, you can use any key combination you prefer — for example, Option+D or Control+Shift+D. You can also copy and paste the symbol from another document, but that is slower. The Character Viewer also works if you forget the shortcut.